Fantastic!

This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

Wow. What can I say. I've seen Sideways before but now, when I'm a bit wiser, I cannot but admire this piece of art as a subtle elaboration of the 21st century human condition.Minutes 56-59 in the movie are the soul of humanity at this day and age. If one doesn't feel the multi-layered emotional gravitas of the characters and what they're trying to achieve then there is something wrong with one.Great writing, fabulous soundtrack, and amazing locations, and Miles is so "Italian" he doesn't seem to be acting all that the emotional turmoil.

Amongst the endless and certainly varied spectrum of dramatic comedies Hollywood has to offer, there has yet to be a tale that resonates so deeply with oneself... That is, until i saw Sideways... What surprised me most about Sideways, was not only its unpredictability in the form of Giamatti's marvelous acting, but the way in which it steadily stayed afloat from start to finish. Through its directing, acting and cinematography, this film brilliantly showcases the endeavours that we all can (in one way or another) appreciate, and whether you liked it or not, acknowledgement of this is without doubt, past due. Exploring Miles' character can be - at times - somewhat complex, however, it's gradually eased thanks to Thomas Haden Church's wonderful support. I heed this to not disregard Giamatti's acting skills, but to in-fact marvel them.Beyond the sleazy nature of Jack and Miles' antics do we develop an intriguing and thought-provoking observance of their growth, from minute one to one-hundred. Watch this film with your eyes, feel it with your mind; for it's a masterclass that's devilishly underrated. Where there's an ovation deserved, there's an ovation awarded. Bravo.

"Sideways" marked Alexander Payne's first Oscar win, following a previous writing nomination for 1999's "Election". Nominated for both writing & directing, he ended up taking home a statuette for his adapted screenplay (shared with Jim Taylor, the co-writer of "Election").On the surface, the movie might not sound like much: A struggling writer takes his long-time friend on a road trip through California's wine country as a send-off prior to his impending nuptials. But what brings the movie to life are the vivid characters, their interactions with one another and their motivations.The always reliable Paul Giamatti plays sad-sack Miles, a divorced English teacher & wine aficionado whose life is mired in depression. His best friend Jack is played by Thomas Haden Church, best known for his role as Lowell in the long-running sitcom "Wings". Jack's positive outlook and energy are a perfect contrast to Miles's generally negative attitude towards everything. Thomas Haden Church snagged an Oscar nomination for his performance but Paul Giamatti was unaccountably (and unexpectedly) snubbed. Virginia Madsen also landed an Oscar nomination for her performance as Miles's love interest, while Sandra Oh rounded out a stalwart main cast.The Oscar-winning script gave these talented actors & actresses plenty to work with and they were expertly guided by director Alexander Payne. Oscar-nominated for both writing & directing, Payne exhibited his knack for crafting idiosyncratic comedies that are strengthened by a meaningful dramatic core. Both visually attractive and musically interesting, the movie is slickly produced without seeming artificial.In the end, though, "Sideways" may not be for everyone. The two main characters are admittedly not the greatest guys. They both have their faults and it's difficult to say how a given viewer will respond to them. Personally, I found Thomas Haden Church's character to be pretty unlikeable the first time I watched the movie. Then again, the fact that he made an impression on me shows that this wasn't to the detriment of the film. In any case, there's a lot to like about "Sideways", even if you aren't simpatico with the two main characters.

Sideways is a thoughtful, studied, and dryly comic look at two very different kinds of losers. Miles (Giamatti) and Jack (Church), are both approaching middle age with too little to show for it, so they embark on a week-long excursion touring vineyards in Santa Inez, Solvang, and surroundings in lieu of a traditional stag party. Jack, undiscerning, immature, and soon to be married, is still coasting on his waning fame as a television doctor from twenty years ago, while Miles, cynical introvert depressive living down a difficult divorce two years on, awaits the last possible rejection of his unpublished tome of a novel. Surely such polar opposites must really love each other to remain friends this long? Not exactly. You get the sense they are each merely the last best option standing within the social isolation / detritus of their lives. Consequently, the trip they had intended to reaffirm their brotherhood devolves quickly; Miles is just there to get drunk on wine he can't otherwise afford on a middle-school teacher's salary, and Jack's burning urgency is to get laid one or ten last times - at least so they say. Reality is more bittersweet; Jack fears for his freedom while Miles retreats into a pretend world where he's still visiting this beautiful country with his ex-wife. There's a lot to chew on here.And it is beautiful country. The film employs real vineyards, often keeping their real name, interior design, and occasionally staff, as vibrant background. But rest assured, wine tasting is just table dressing here - Sideways is as much about California wine country as Chocolat is about confections. Miles' encyclopedic appreciation for wine is a cover for his depression-fueled alcoholism, while Jack has no interest in the virgin grape beyond the women pouring it. Maya (Madsen), fellow wine nerd, and Stephanie (Oh), pot-smoking single mother, match the men's personalities, but not their failures. They may not be where they want to be in life, but at least they face it with a certain maturity and without lying about their situations. As much as Sideways is a film about mid-life crises (male menopause if you will), it is a film about lying. Miles and Jack are lying to each other, to the women they pick up, and ultimately to themselves from very nearly the first line of dialogue. By the third act things have come to a head, as expected, with no way out but through. In fact, Jack frequently posits great ideas to turn their lives around, but both men are too self-destructive to follow them up.Other aspects of the film match the content. The score is ambient, but not intruding. The editing is occasionally flashy, but never at the expense of plot or dialogue, the camera-work is what cinema verite would look like if the camera were always mounted. Nothing in excess seems to be the motto, and it's a good one considering the introspective quality of the story. Where the closest you get to action is pudgy middle-aged men briskly walking around a driveway, the humor is dry as a domestic syrah, we always know our destination and there are no tears when we get there, then why not let the thing alone to speak for itself? That's what Alexander Payne did and we should be grateful.Sideways is a slice-of-life film, necessarily starting and ending without too much success or failure. It is expected and a bit precarious, but so is real life. It is the film's open-ended nature that makes its bleakness bearable.10 / 10, by turns darkly funny and sad-making